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Discuss planning, goals, and budget priorities for the Lubbock City Council and the City of Lubbock, and discuss the programs, expenditures and policies of the City Council and the City of Lubbock, including but not limited to the Lubbock City Charter, ARPA funding, annexation and growth, aquatics, substance abuse, municipal fees, transportation, infrastructure, solid waste, streets, Gateway Fund, Civic Center, Lubbock Animal Services, libraries, community engagement, capital improvements, facilities, parks and recreation, development services, legislative agenda, public safety, public health, public safety infrastructure, code enforcement, staffing levels, and future needs. This discussion may include a wide range of topics related to the programs, operation, and policies of the City Council and the City of Lubbock. Action may be taken by the City Council to give direction to the City Manager in regard to determining the priorities and goals discussed. Mayor Tray Payne introduced the item, gave comments, and answered questions from City Council. Jarrett Atkinson, city manager, gave a presentation on current City Council priorities, related outcomes, and answered questions from City Council. Topics discussed included: public safety, public health, fiscal discipline, communications, community improvement, growth & development, economic development & redevelopment, and the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Discussion ensued among City Council regarding priorities to emphasize in the upcoming year. The priorities identified included: Public Safety, including vagrancy/homelessness enforcement, animal services, and code enforcement; Growth & Development, including infrastructure, street maintenance, and core services; Redevelopment, including a focus on balanced growth, affordable housing, and redevelopment of streets in downtown Lubbock; Communication, including growth of the City of Lubbock app and social media presence, improvement of communications with the public, continuation of the Lubbock 101, the Lubbock Police Department, and Lubbock Fire Rescue citizen academy programs, and utilization of the digital speaker program; Community Improvement, including internship opportunities, CDL training programs, neighborhood planning, infrastructure, the proposed solid waste transfer station, completion of the water tower projects, improvement of parks and trails, and the development of Lake 7; Fiscal Discipline, including the continuance of cash funding; Public Health, including the Diversion Center, substance abuse programs, mental health programs, homelessness, and better utilization of the mobile units operated by the City of Lubbock Health Department; and Economic Development & Redevelopment, including completion of the Unified Development Code (UDC) and infrastructure. Mr. Atkinson presented on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds as they relate to the City of Lubbock and answered questions from City Council. Topics discussed included: the potential reallocation of funds from the broadband expansion project, the Small Business Grant Program, and the Non-Profit Grant Program. There was consensus among City Council to delay further discussion and any possible reallocation of ARPA funds until after the November 8, 2022, Street Bond Election. Additionally, Mr. Atkinson presented the proposed 2022-2023 City of Lubbock Legislative Agenda as it relates to key issues for the 88th Texas Legislature and the 117th and 118th United States Congress and answered questions from City Council. City Council directed staff to include support for the funding of the Lubbock Veterans Cemetery to the proposed 2022-2023 City of Lubbock Legislative Agenda. |